Page 59 of Saving Veronica
“The only pet I ever had was a goldfish. It died when I was five, so I dressed as a fisherman to represent him.” They all laughed with her, and Finn frowned at the four older adults.
“How come you four aren’t dressed?”
“Because, we’re going to walk around and direct everything,” Eric said. “And if anyone wants to make donations, they can come to us.”
“Oh,” Finn said, and rubbed his face.
“Don’t worry,” Maggie said, as she came over and rubbed his arm. “This is your first one. Once this one’s under your belt, the next one will be easier. As I told you that first time we met, trust the people around you.”
“Thanks, Maggie,” Finn said, and looked up when the door opened and several people with pets walked in, and the party got underway. They went to greet them and Finn decided to grab a quick plate of snacks before more people came. He had a feeling he wouldn’t get another chance all night.
About an hour later, Finn stood talking to Patch who’d arrived dressed as a doctor, and he laughed. “Not very original.”
“What can I say?” Patch laughed. He wore a set of scrubs with his stethoscope around his neck. Grady walked up to them, along with a couple who had a pug with them. Finn frowned when Major started panting, and his whole body wiggled, but no one was really around him. Then, all of a sudden he heard someone actually scream his name. He looked up and burst out laughing.
“Awk! Finn! Awk! Finn! Awk!” Captain came flying across the room and landed on his shoulder.
“What the hell?” the newcomer asked, and Finn looked up and asked the bird.
“Are you supposed to be here? Aren’t you supposed to be with your Mama?” Finn asked, and smirked when the bird ducked its head into his feathers. He looked up and stared in shock at the woman walking toward them. He looked at Patch and elbowed him. “I should have joined the Navy.”
“Why? We were Marines for years.”
“Yeah, but if we were in the Navy, we could only hope we’d get taken capture by that pirate.” He pointed, and everyone turned to see Ronnie walking toward them dressed as a pirate. She wore knee-high black boots, tan leggings, the outside of each boot had a knife sticking out of the top. She wore a large white top that flowed over her body, a wide belt with a sword hung off the side. The bodice had leather lacing, her long hair was in a braid and she wore a black eye patch over her left eye. She seemed to float across the floor as she approached, and several people turned to watch her. When she was only a few feet away, Major lurched forward and Ronnie laughed and dropped to one knee, and rubbed him down.
As she stood back up, she looked at Finn and smirked. “Your shoulder ornament doesn’t really go with your outfit.”
He shrugged and grinned. “You have to admit his colors enhance the green camo.”
“There is that.” She grinned and then surprised them both by giving him a quick hug, and grinned when Captain went over to her shoulder. She turned to Patch and did the same with him, then again with Grady. She turned to the other couple and grinned. “Professor Graham, welcome.”
“Miss Parker, I’d like you to meet my wife, Edna, and this is our dog, Andy.”
“May I?” she asked, as she looked at Andy, and after being given permission, she rubbed him and he was a wriggling mess in his arms.
“She does that to you? Make you feel like that?” Patch whispered to Finn, as they watched.
“Yes, you?” Finn held his breath, as he waited for his best friend’s response.
“Naw, she’s like a sister. So, as much as I harassed you, I’m not interested that way.”
“Thank god,” Finn said, and Patch burst out laughing.
“So, who do you have there?” Professor Graham asked, as he looked at the bird on Ronnie’s shoulder. “Is this the famous Kip?”
“Unfortunately no, Kip died two years ago. This is Captain. He just turned a year old, and I’ve only had him since I got out of the hospital.”
“He’s beautiful,” Edna said. “And his name is Captain?”
“Yep. Captain, say hello to Professor Graham and Edna.”
“Awk! Hello Edna! Awk! Hello Professor! Awk!” Everyone laughed, and when Andy leaned forward and sniffed him, he screamed, “Awk! Don’t eat the bird! Awk!” Again everyone laughed and she explained why he would say that.
“I still need to come out to your farm one of these days.”
“I know this is none of my business, but how do you know Ronnie?” Finn asked, from his position direct across from Ronnie.
Ronnie looked at Finn and frowned, then laughed. “Professor Graham is one of my professors at school. I’ve had him for one or two classes a semester since I started, and when I went into the DVM program, he became my advisor.”
